Charles william lovell



UNITED STATES PATENT FFPCEQ CHARLES WILLIAM LOVELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FRED WHITE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MAILING-BOX.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 597,726, dated January25, 1898.

Application filed January 13, 1896. Serial No. 575,206. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES WILLIAMLOv ELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mailing-Boxesand other Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boxes and receptacles, and especially to boxesfor packing bottled liquids and other articles for safe shipment throughthe mails and for likepurposes.

The invention aims to provide improvements which are especiallyapplicable to boxes for mailing liquids in bottles and aims to provide abox sufficiently strong to protect a fragile bottle against breakage,sufficiently tight to prevent leakage of the contents of the bottle incase of accident, and a box which shall be cheap and light ofconstruction and easy of manipulation.

In carrying out the invention in its preferred form the box is madeinternally absorbent and externally impervious to moisture, the covermakes a leak-tight joint with the body, an improved-separable connectionis provided for fastening the cover and body together, and a cushioningand absorbent material is disposed in the spacesbetween the inner wallsof the boxand the vessel it carries. Other features of improvement arealso provided.

In the accompanying drawings, which show the preferred form of myinvention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mailing-box embodying myimprovements; and Fig. 2 is a vertical axial section thereof, the bottleor other liquid-holdin g vessel being shown therein in elevation.

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate the body of a box, B thecoverthereof, and 'O the bottle or other vessel packed therein. The exteriora of the body is preferably impervious to moisture. The exterior I) ofthe cover is likewise impervious, these external surfaces beingcontinuous and uninterrupted around the sides and ends of the body andcover. The body is a cylindrical cup-shaped member having side walls 0and bottom walls (Z, united by a curve B. The cover is also cupshaped,having cylindrical side walls f and flat top g, united by a curve Itwith the side walls. The cover and body fit together, the joint beingpreferably eflfected by providing a socket '6 in the body, whichreceives a cylindrical neck j on the cover. The top edge is of the bodyis opposed to the bottom edge l of the outer wall of the cover, andbetween these edges is a thin ring m, of rubber or other suitablepacking or expansive material,

which may be slightly compressed as the cover is seated on the body, sothat, if desired, there may be a tendency for slight separation of thebody and cover.

A fastening or clasp D for holding the cover on the body is provided,and an additional fastening or catch E for insuring against theirseparation is also preferably employed. The fastening D is bestconstructed as a bayonetjoint or L-shaped socket, recess, or groove witha vertical leg n and a transverse and slightly outwardly undercut orother suitable portion, as the inclined leg 0, which groove is formedin, on, or near one of the parts of the box, as the wall 0 of the body,and is re ciprocal to a projection or other suitable provision, as thestud 19, carried on or by the other of the parts of the box, as the neckj of the cover. The studs 19 and groovesn 0 are shown as duplicated atdiametrically opposite sides of the box, and when the cover is passedinto the box with its studs in the vertical grooves and pushed inwardlyuntil its studs are opposite the transverse groove 0, the packing m mustbe slightly compressed before the studs can pass below thedownwardly-projecting corners q of the grooves, as these corners areslightly below the remainder of the transverse portion of the grooves.hen the studs are below. these corners, a slight relative rotation ofthe box and cover will suffice to bring the studs into the inner ends orholding portions of the grooves, where the expansive tendency of thepacking m will assist in holding them. The fastening E serves as anelastic catch, holding the clasp D from accidental loosening, and asshown is a band, preferably an elastic endless rubber strap 7", thebends in which are fixed to the body A in any suitable manner, as bymeans of the staples s, which are driven into the side walls This strapis stretched up over 0 of the box.

the cover, passing across the top of the latter. For holding it thecover has notches or equivalent provisions t on its upper corners. Thestrap is disposed slightly at one side of the studs 1) and of the end ofthe part of the grooves, so that when the stud is home in the groovesthe strap will lie at rear of the stud I when it is moved in position,and will thus prevent any loosening movement of the stud in the groove,as shown in Fig. 1.

The joint between the box and cover is made leak-tight also by coatingthe inner face of the socket t' and the outer face of the neck j withparaflin or other suitable sealing material of sufficient softness topermit the neck to be passed into the body and removed therefrom withouttoo great resistance.

The outer portion of the body and of the cover may be made of anysuitable material, but I prefer to mold these parts of papiermach orother light fibrous material of sufficient strength, which may berendered impervious to moisture in any suitable manner, as by applying acoating u of impervious material to its outer walls.

I prefer to provide immediately within the body a cylinder F, ofstrawboard, paper, or other sufficiently stiff material, which cylinder,if made of strawboard, will have the advantage of being highly absorbentof moisture and of swelling when moistened. This cylinder is a close fitwith the inner sides of the walls 0 of the box, and is preferably Ishorter than these walls, having its upper edge i) at the bottom of thesocket or mouth 1. of the box and its lower edge to near the bottom walld of the box. Between this edge and the bottom wall I prefer to locate aflat disk :30, of strawboard or other suitable absorbent orstrengthening material, which reinforces the sides of the body againstdiametric strains, strengthens the bottom wall d, and acts as an endabsorbent for moisture. The interior of the cover is similarlyconstructed, having a like cylinder G, which, however, is longer thanthe side walls of the cover and has its lower end 3 projecting aconsiderable distance beyond the face Z of the cover. From this faceoutwardly the cylinder Gr serves as the neck for the cover. When inposition on the body, the neck lies with its end y in close proximity tothe end 2) of the cylinder F, and

when the cylinders are swollen by moisture these end faces immediatelyare forced together and make a tight joint. The upper end of thecylinder G terminates at z, slightly below the top Q of the cover, andbetween this end and top there is inserted a strawboard or other disk H,which serves the same purpose for the cover as does the disk :0 for thebody.

The box is preferably somewhat larger in ternally than the vessel to bepacked in it, and its internal space is utilized for the reception ofabsorbent and cushioning material. This material may be of any suitableor desired character and is disposed within the box as desired. I preferto use cotton to arrange this so that it will be held in position toleave a socket for the bottle or other vessel substantially conformingto the shape of the latter. This socket is formed partially in'the boxand partially in the cover and the space between it and the walls isfilled with absorbent material.

Preferably a perforated bibulous paper I is fastened within the box in'the shape desired for the socket in the body portion, and cotton'J isfilled in to the desired quantity between this paper and the walls ofthe body. This paper is pasted at its upper edge a to the cylinder F,nearthe end '0 thereof. In the cover a similar bibulous paper I isemployed pasted at its lower edge at B to the lower edge of the cylinderG, and between this paper and the walls the desired quantity of cotton Jis inserted. Preferably the division between the body and cover is madeat some prominent or large part of the vessel to be packed. In the'example shown the division is at the junction of the neck and body of thebottle 0, so that the bottle-body is carried in the body of the box andthe neck in the cover of the box. Thesocket K in the body is accordinglyshaped to substantially'fit the bottle-body, while the socket K in thecover is contracted to substantially fit the neck. The upper face a ofthe wall I will bear 011 the cork of the bottle, the lower face (1 ofthe wall I will receive the bottom of the bottle, and the face 6' of thewall I will be over the neck or shoulder of the body of the bottle, sothat the latter will be firmly embraced by the interior of the box, butwill be held by the yielding inner lining thereof, so that the shocks towhich the box is subjected will be cushioned before reaching the bottle.If a bottle should break or leak, the fluid flowing from it will beimmediately drawn by capillary action into the absorbent cotton, whichof itself will best be proportioned in quantity to an amount sufficientto entirely absorb the contents of liquid held by the vessel to bepacked in the box. From this cotton the moisture will be communicated inpart to the absorbent cylinders F and G and the top H and bottom 00, andthese will be immediately expanded against each other and against theinner walls of the body and cover with sufficient force to makeleak-tight joints at their junctions. Should any moisture permeatethrough the cylinders, the impermeable outer walls will prevent externaldampness. The paraffin between the socket i and neck j and thepacking-ring m will prevent any leakage prior to complete absorption ofthe liquid escaping from the bottle.

In use the bottle will be first placed in the body, whereupon the coverB will be applied to the latter, pressed home, and then fastened inposition. In the construction shown the rubber band 0' will be turneddown to the side until the cover has been passed inwardly and turneduntil its studs are home in the grooves. Then the rubber band will bestretched up over the top, snapped into its grooves i, and seated inrear of the studs 1), so that they cannot turn backward. The boX canthen be shipped by mail, express, or otherwise without danger ofaccidental opening. To open it, the band r should first be freed fromthe cover, when the latter can be pressed inwardly and turned to bringits studs 1) into the upright legs of the grooves, whereupon it can bedrawn out. In many instances the fastening D or the fastening E can bealone relied on; but I prefer to employ both for the greatest security.

It will. be seen that my invention provides improvements which can bereadily and advantageously availed of, and it will be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the particular details of construction,arrangement, or combination set forth and shown as constituting thepreferred form of the invention, but that it can be employed, in wholeor in part, according to such modifications as circumstances or thejudgment of those skilled in the art may dictate without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

The shape of the box can be varied to adapt it to the shape of thebottle or other vessel to be packed, and'the construction of the innercasing and the arrangement of the absorbent material can be modified tosuit the shape of the box and the requirements of use.

By makingthe fastening between the cover and body an undercut fastening,so that the holding portions of the recess and projection when inengagement in the fastened position require a preliminary releasingoperation before they can be disengaged to permit the separation of thecover, great security is attained against accidental opening of the box.Any construction of recess and projection can be employed and any meansfor catching the fastening against accidental displacement can beemployed. In the construction shown the catch E is utilized for thispurpose, and in addition the tendency of the box and cover to separateis also utilized. In this construction several portions of the boxincidentally contribute to produce this separable tendency.

The elastic packing between the cover and body, no matter where placed,may be conipressed as the fasteningis passing to the holding position,so that its expansion will tend to resist movement of the parts whenthey have reached the holding position, as such movement wouldnecessitate a slight compression of this packing. In case of Wetting theexpansion of the inner tubes draws the fastening into tighter engageinent. The compression of the fibrous material J and J between theends of the bottle and the adjacent ends of the box and cover also tendsto separate the latter and add to the resistance to be overcome in movin g the cover inwardly until 1. In mailing-boxes and the like, a bodyand p a cover therefor, said body having an internal socket forreceiving a bottle or other liquid-holding vessel, said socket of lesssize than the interior of said body, and of a size and shapesubstantially fitting the vessel to i be received therein, and said bodyhaving within its interior between said socket and its walls, a mass ofabsorbent fibrous material conforming in shape on its exterior to theinner walls of said body, and on its interior to said socket, fillingthe space between said body and socket, and having an absorbent capacitysubstantially sufficient to absorb the liquid contents of any vesselfitting said socket, whereby in case of breakage of a vessel within saidbody the liquid contents of the vessel will be absorbed by said materialand thus leakage will be prevented and atransverse reinforcing-diskcarried at the end of said body and reinforcing the latter, whereby thestrength of the box is maintained while its size is greater than that ofthe vessel to be carried in it.

2. In mailing-boxesand the like, a cupshaped body, in combination with acupshaped cover fitting thereon, said body and cover having hollowinteriors each formed with a socket reciprocal to the socket in theother, said sockets adapted the one to receive and fit one end and theadjacent sides of a bottle or other liquid-holding vessel, and the otherto receive and fit the other end and the remaining portion of suchbottle or vessel, and said body and covereach having between their innerside and end walls and said sockets a mass of fibrous absorbent materialsurrounding said sockets, said material adapted to absorb the contentsof the vessel fitting said sockets, whereby in case of breakage leakagefrom the box will be prevented and transverse reinforcing-disks at theclosed ends of said body and cover reinforcing said parts, whereby thestrength of the boxis maintained while its size is greater than that ofthe vessel fitting it. 4

, 3. In mailing-boxes and the like, a hollow body having an interior ofgreater size than a liquid-holding bottle or vessel to be packed in thebox, having an internal socket adapted to receive and fit the sides andend of such vessel, and of less width and depth than the interior ofsaid body, and a continuous and homogeneous mass of absorbent materialfixed within said body and filling the interior of the latter betweenthe sides and end of said socket.

4c. In mailing-boxes and the like, a body having a hollow interior ofgreater 'size than the article to be packed in the box, and having aninternal socket receiving and substantially fitting such article, incombination with a porous wall, within said body, for said socket,embracing the article within the latter, and an open fibrous materialsurrounding said wall and filling the space between the latter and thewalls of said body, whereby in case of breakage of said article thecontents thereof can flow through said wall and into said material.

5. In mailing-boxes and the like, a cup shaped body and a cup-shapedcover therefor, in combination with an inner wall for the box consistingof a transversely-divided tube, one member thereof fitting within theinterior of said body and of a length differing from the depth thereof,and the other member fitting within the interior of said cover and of alength diifering from the depth thereof, the members of said tube whensaid body and cover are in position abutting at a point remote from thepoint of engagement of said body and cover, and said body and coverrespectively having sockets communicating with each other for fittingthe article to be packed in the box, and having cushioning materialbetween said sockets and the walls of said tube.

6. In mailingboxes and the like, a body consisting of an outercup-shaped member of molded papier-mach impervious to moisture, and aninner wall fitting said member and consisting of a strawboard andexpansive tube, and a cover fitting and attached to said body oppositethe end of said tube, said body having within said tube a socket forreceiving a liquid-holding bottle or vessel, whereby in case of breakagesaid absorbent tube by longitudinal expansion reacts against said coverand body and makes a tight joint therewith.

7. In mailing-boxes and the like, a cupshaped body and a cup-shapedcoyer, each cylindrical and of like diameter, and each consisting ofmolded material impervious to moisture, in combination with acylindrical strawboard tube divided intermediate of its ends into twomembers, the one fitting and fixed within the interior of said body, andthe other fitting and fixed within the interior of said cover, said tubemembers of a length differing from the depth of said body and cover, andwhen the body and cover are attached together disposed with their endsin proximity within the body, strawboard disks within said body andcoverbetween the ends of said tube members and the end walls of saidbody and cover, a socket within said body for receiving the vessel to bepacked in the box, and yielding material within said body and coverfilling the space between said socket and the walls of said tube memberselastic fastening-band fixed to one of said members, engaging said catchwhen the latter is in the locking position and passing over the end ofthe other of said members to prevent separation thereof.

9. In mailing-boxes and the like, male and female body and coversections fitting together, in combination with a catch locking saidparts together, and a flexible band connected to one of said partsengaging said catch when the latter is in the locking position, andpassing over the other of said parts and preventing release of saidcatch.

10. In mailing-boxes and the like, a cupshaped'body and a cup-shapedcover, in combination with a strawboard tube fitting and fixed withinone of said parts, projecting beyond the open end thereof, and fittingat its projecting end into the other of said parts, said tube having ayielding leak-proof coating on its outer face between the end of thepart carrying itand the end of its projecting portion, whereby when theprojecting end is forced within the member receiving it, a leaktightjoint between the cover and the body is made.

11. In boxes and the like, a bodyA having an innersocket K, a porouswall I, an absorbent material J, an absorbent wall F, and outer walls 0and d. a

12. In mailing-boxes and the like, a hollow body, a cover therefor, andfastening provisions holding said body and cover together, incombination with a separate elastic catch springing into lockingengagement with said fastening provisions as the latter reach theposition for fastening the cover to the body, auxiliary to and resistingdisengagement of said fastening provisions, whereby accidental freeingof the cover is prevented, and first said catch and then said fasteningmust be operated to free it.

13. In mailing-boxes and the like, a hollow body and a cover therefor,in combination with fastening provisions for holding said partstogether, consisting of a recess on the one part and a projectionentering said recess and carried by the other part, and a distinctelastic catch carried by one of said parts springing behind and normallyengaging said projection when in said recess, and resisting escape ofsaid projectiontherefrom, and movable to disengage said projection andpermit its withdrawal from said recess.

14. In mailing-boxes and the like, a hollow body and a cover therefor,in combination with fastening provisions between said parts consistingof an undercut recess carried by one of said parts, and a projectioncarried by the other of said parts entering said recess and when in theholding position engaging the undercut portion thereof, and a separateelastic catch behind and engaging the rear of therein, and a separatecatch crossing said recess and resisting movement of said projectionfrom said position, whereby accidental separation of the cover isprevented.

In witnesswhereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES ILLIAM LOVELL.

Witnesses GEORGE H. FRASER, THOMAS F. WALLACE.

